Poetry ( Reader's Request )

This request comes from Ms. Michelle, asking if I write poetry. Yes, I do write poetry. It's funny you should ask, because the think a thought after this one ( which I started before I got the request ) was going to have a poem in it anyway. Here are some poems about things I have been thinking about, or just popped into my head.

Ode to Lucky

Lucky, Lucky, my dog of chance,
You were the one that did not prance,
I held you last but chose you first,
My choice was for better and not for the worst.
At first you were tired and lonesome too,
I was about to give up on you,
But something happened overnight,
The next day you were alright!
You started to play and run around,
And that was when my love unbound,
You retrieved my lonely heart,
And I will love you till we part.

Ode to Barkley

Barkley, Barkley, you were a brave dog,
Fun-loving and sweet,
What could go wrong?
I was just 3, and you were 11,
And by the time I was 4,
 You'd be in heaven,
Bone cancer came and stole you away,
The sun did not shine bright that day,
But I'll always remember you as you are,
A dog of great honor, you shine like a star.

Why You Should Never Lie ( Reader's Request )

This request comes again from Mr. Wayne C., asking: Why shouldn't you lie? Well, Wayne, that's a good question, and here is your long and fully-detailed answer.

You should never lie, especially not to your parents, because it shows a lack of honor. It makes people think you are rude and sneaky, and it brings shame to you and your family. Liars are always found out, no matter what. Even if you tell the truth, people might think you are lying if you have a bad reputation for it. I will use this well-known story as an example.

The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf

Once upon a time, in a small village, there was a boy named Tommy. He thought it would be a fine prank on the villagers if he pretended a fierce wolf was chasing him. So after a few times, he had pulled the prank off, and every time people came running out, only to discover Tommy laughing. Now, one day, a wolf really WAS chasing Tommy, so he called out for help. Now the townspeople thought it was another prank, and didn't come out to look. The boy was eaten by the wolf, and learned that you don't lie.

Well, now you know why you should never ever lie. I have learned that lesson, and hopefully you will too. Everyone lies once in their life. If you tell the person the truth, even if they won't like it, you will be better off then if you lie to them.

Next Post,
Maddie

Famous Fudge Recipe- Halloween Special

Hi there! Me and my Mom were making fudge today, and it gave me a great idea for my think a thought. The fudge is so scrumptious, I decided that you too can make this treat! I will give you the full recipe from the box for the time, the ingredients, right down to the pan size. Please take caution, you might fall down when you taste how good this is!

The Recipe:

Ingredients:
5 cups sugar
2 small 5 oz. cans of evaporated milk
1/4 lb. butter or margerine
1 19 oz. jar of marshmallow fluff
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup walnuts ( optional )
2 12 oz. bags of chocolate chips
... mixed together with one over-flowing cup of love!


Instructions:
1: Combine first five ingredients in large saucepan. Stir over low heat until blended.
2: Bring to boil over moderate heat, being careful not to mistake escaping air bubbles for boiling. Then boil slowly. Stirring constantly for five minutes. ( use soft ball test )
3: Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate and vanilla ( and nuts if used ) until chocolate is melted. Pour into 2 buttered 9x9 inch pans and cool. Yeild: Approximately 5 lb.
4: Enjoy this tasty treat, and don't forget to lick the spoon!

Cook's tips: Leave the fudge in your freezer over night. In the mid-afternoon, take fudge out of freezer and cut it. Serve immediately after cutting or wait for later.
 

I hope you enjoy this fun recipe for fudge. I enjoy making it .... and eating it! Hopefully you will enjoy it too.

Later,
Maddie

The Life of Lucky

" Why do people always look at ME when they smell something? I mean really, I don't do it that much." "Oh, hello. I am Lucky. ( Ok, it's not really Lucky, it's me, Maddie, as usual, but I am writing as if I am Lucky.)" Today has been a typical dog day for me. Going outside, sleeping, eating, and playing. But, in every typical day for me, there is always adventure. 

I went out in the woods with my mistress, and I got her lost. But it was an accident, of course. I had picked up a really good scent, and I had to see what it was. I think it was my girlfriend dog next door, Misty. There are so many opportunities to life when you are a dog, and sometimes it gets confusing. Should you follow this exciting smell, or maybe this one? Has this territory been marked yet? Can I mark it? So many options, and of course .... Mooching!

Every time my owners eat, you can almost guarantee you'll find me sitting right beside them. I am a hound for food, any kind of food,  and I chew a lot of stuff. I am a retriever, so, my nature is to retrieve things ( duh ). I got yelled at today just for dragging in a milk carton I found. I mean sheesh! It smelled good, and it was perfect for a chew toy. I couldn't believe my mistress threw it in the trash. 

Right now, as my mistress is typing this, I am sound asleep dreaming about my day. I had a great day, and so did my family. Now I think my mistress is going to get up, and leave this up for awhile ... WHAT??!! THIS IS GOING TO BE READ BY A LOT OF PEOPLE?! THE EMBARRASSMENT! STOP IT QUICKLY! AHHHH!

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A Few Ways To Calm Your Self

Have you ever had one of those moments when you just feel like exploding? This feeling is usually caused by stress. When I get that feeling, usually a few deep breaths works. But sometimes, you still feel like exploding. Here are a few tricks that I have used in the past to help myself calm down. I hope you find them useful.

1: The Free fall relief

When the deep breathing doesn't work, I close my eyes and picture my self falling through a perfect blue sky. At the moment I am about to hit earth, I am caught and float along into my perfect fantasy ... first, drifting under a lake and being able to breathe, then, soaring deep into a hidden grove in the woods, were a comfortable gazebo awaits. Everyone's fantasy is different, so make up a different one each time you use this technique.


2: The Pillow

Whenever I get very mad, I will find a pillow and punch it with all my might. By the time I am done, I have calmed myself down and feel limp, and usually lie down. ( A glass of water is recommended after doing this, and some food helps too. You have just worn out your muscles, and need to strengthen them. )

If neither of these tricks work, just find a quiet place to relax and think happy thoughts. Usually, the deep breathing works out fine, and you don't need these tips. But occasionally, deep breaths don't cut it, and you wonder what to do next. Now you have a few ways to go if breathing fails, and somewhere to go when you feel down.

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Super Lucky and The Cat Caper

One day, Lucky awoke on his silken pillow, stretching. Drianna, his friend, was lying next to him. He quietly walked downstairs so he would not wake her. Shaking himself off, he ran to his doggy-door and strolled into the yard. Suddenly, his microphone collar beeped. It was Lulabell, a Great Dane in charge of W.O.O.F.D, Working Omnivore Overcharged Federal Dogs, an association that was against cats. " Super Lucky, do you read me?"  said Lulabell. " Loud and clear, Lulu. What's the crime this time?" " Cats, what else. There have been reports of two alley cats called Scruff and Buff in Jaffrey. They nearly killed Mr. Minkles while he was walking home from work today. You must get on the case right away!" " Ok Lulu. I'm on it."

Lucky's first stop was the 5 star diner in town. He slid into the kitchen and grabbed a plain muffin before heading to the alley. When he got there, he was confronted by Scruff. " You will never stop us from destroying the mouse empire, never!" he screeched. " Hey kitty," said Lucky. " Want some catnip? Cause I will give it to you. It's when the cat- gets nipped." And with that, he picked Scruff up and flung him into a cat carrier.

Next, he found a shaking trash can. When he looked inside, he found Buff waiting. Buff was sitting on an old newspaper, and it was easy to tell he was the ruler. He had an empty tuna can on his head, and an old blanket draped around him. He clicked his paws, and three mice came out with bits of tuna. They fed him, and crawled back out. Lucky saw what he had to do. He baited a cat carrier with tuna, and soon, Buff and Scruff were at the cat shelter. Super Lucky saved the day!

The Difference Between Class and Style ( Special Reader's Request )

This is the first readers request I have had since ... since ... well, it's my first! This request comes from Mr. Wayne C., wanting to know the difference between class and style. Style focuses on the outside of a person, like their clothing. Class, however, digs beneath the surface to integrity, honor, and respect. Here are some examples written into these short stories. Try to guess which people care more about style, and others more about class. If you think you know the answer, please comment below.

Sally was a very poor woman. She only worked hard enough to get herself one expensive suit to go out in, some food, and rent herself a Cadillac. She would go out every day in her suit and car, smiling when people stared at her and her car. Then, she would go home to her mobile home, and repeat the process next day.

Joe was a very hardworking man. He had a job as a stock analyst, and made millions. He had a mansion tucked back in the woods, but drove around in a regular pickup truck and dressed like a normal person, not like a rich snob. Once, Joe's friend asked Joe to do something for him. Now, Joe could do it very quickly, but it would mean breaking the promise to his friend. As it happened, Joe's friend moved away,so he would never know if Joe did it wrong. Joe had the honor to do it the right way, and lived happily after that. 

So there were the short stories. Please do not look at the answer until commenting. I think it is a pretty obvious test, and half of you are probably going to look at the answer anyway. A few of you might have the class to wait, but others ... Well I really shouldn't pick on that stuff on my website. It is meant for laughs, not for frowns. Well, I guess it's for information too, but mostly for laughs.

The answer is: Sally was the woman who cared about style. She was poor, and only had enough money to make people stare at a car that wasn't even hers. Joe, however, had class. He could have done the work the easy way out, but he had enough honor to do it right. I hope you learned something from this Think a Thought. I know I did.

Next Post,
Maddie

Lucky Balthazar, Caught Red-handed!

Today, I went outside only to discover a giant mess. There was chewed up Styrofoam all over the walkway, not including a million broken up wood pieces. Then, I looked off to the side of the yard, just to find out that there was a giant hole dug in the middle of the yard. This was my first thought: LUCKY!!! Lucky will chew anything he finds. A few times, Dad has caught him chewing on our porch steps! Another bad habit of his is dragging in wood, Styrofoam, bags of fertilizer, and heavens knows else into our yard. One glance at the front yard plainly tells people that a dog lives here.

Now, to the side of our house, there is an electric meter. Once upon a time before Lucky, there was a clear place for the electric person to walk to check the meter. Now that Lucky moved in, there is a giant hole right across the walkway. I tried to put a stone across it, but Lucky dug it up and it is gone. Lucky chews on bushes, wooden sticks, small trees, everything! I cannot go outside barefoot anymore because of fear of getting a splinter.

Next Post,
Maddie

My Life Part 2: After Babyhood

After my 1st steps, which occurred at about 20 months, I really took off.  I started talking ( my first word was cup ) and I was able to go trick-or-treating as Piglet! When I was 3, I started to be home schooled. I enjoyed my dad's stories and singing, and my favorite song was there was a little mouse. Our old dog, Mr. Barkley, was alive then, so I was pretty happy. Mr. Barkley died of bone cancer at age eleven when I was four. He was a good dog, and not even Lucky can replace him.

At age five, I was already pretty well trained in karate. I was about an orange belt, and I remember that Mom and Dad were talking about moving. At age six, we went up to New Hampshire to start looking for a new house. I remember staying in hotels, looking in different houses, and finally finding the one we liked. At the beginning of our stay in our new house, I remember eating alot of junk food and pop tarts.

On my seventh birthday, I was very excited. I was going to Disney World for the first time ever! I had a blast. It was a very good time. We had fully moved into our New Hampshire house, and were in the process of selling our New Jersey one. I started learning Kenpo karate at Evan's Kenpo in Jaffery NH that year, but soon switched to USA karate. I moved up belts quickly, and I am currently a first degree brown belt.

When I was eight, my sister was born. I was happy that I had a sister and not a brother, because little sisters you can play dress-up with. I was amazed at how small she was! When I turned nine, I went to Storyland with a friend like this year. Now, I am ten, and this is were my life's story ends.
For now, anyway.
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Monster High

Monster High .... Who the heck came up with it anyway? I mean, these creatures are supposed to be children of monsters. Ok, you got me that far. Just one question. If these are children of monsters, WHY DO THEY LOOK KIND OF LIKE HUMANS???  Lagoona Blue, the supposed daughter of the Lake Monster, doesn't look like a lake monster at all! She has legs, for one. I thought lake monsters had fins! 2: who heard of a sea monster with hair? And not just any hair, BLONDE HAIR? And why would  a sea monster wear clothing? Wouldn't they get wet underwater? Yes, I know these creatures are not real, but I am just pointing out facts!

I honestly did not know that this Monster High thing was a TV series, I just liked the dolls. P.S. I have almost the entire original collection!  I only found out about the TV series by talking to my friends. Actually, I don't have cable TV, so that explains that. The different dolls each come with pets, stands, hair brushes, and even a small diary. For example: Lagoona Blue doll comes fully equipped with her pink piranha pet Neptuna ( plus a special bag to carry her in ) a doll stand, a hair brush, and a small, cheaply made diary. On the back of the box, there are little facts that tell you about the monster's personality. Example: Caveleen:
Parents: The Caveman
Freaky Flaw: Too Much Hair!
Pet Peeve: Bald people
Favorite Subject: History
Least Favorite Subject: Future
Favorite Food: Dinosaur Brains
BFF'S:  Frankie Stein, Lagoona Blue, etc.

So there, Mattell Inc. I gave you free advertising! FREE! But I warn you, nothing is free in this country. I will get back at you! What? I am still in my Think a Thought? Oh. Well, now you know more about Monster High dolls. Warning if you are thinking of buying one, they are about $18 bucks a pop, so just be ready to save. And also, in case you're wondering about the second year of my life: as a toddler, it will be tomorrow's Think a Thought.

Til' then,
Maddie

Storyland and It's Wonders

Well, my trip to Storyland was an absolute success! That is why I am here to tell you all about it. So sit back and enjoy the tale of the trip to Storyland.

I got up excited about Storyland that day, filled with joy. Me, Dad, and Ashleigh left at 6:30 a.m. to go pick up my mom and my friend Cassie who were coming with us. We drove for almost three hours, but finally, we reached Storyland. I was very excited. So was Cassie. I had been to Storyland before, and decided to introduce Cassie to the best of the rides first.

The first ride I introduced Cassie to was the Bamboo Shoots, a log flume ride. It took a long wait in line, but finally we got our turn. I was happy, but scared too. The bamboo chutes has a gigantic drop, and just as we were about to go over, I was going to chicken out, but BOOM! Down we went, and it felt wonderful. So wonderful that I decided to go again. And again. And again .... Next, Cassie requested we go on the Polar Coaster, a roller coaster I was scared of ... at least until I tried it. It was great! But I should probably tell you about Dad's favorite ride now ...

Dad's most absolute favorite ride was called Splash Battle: Pharaoh's Reign. It is an amazing ride. I must have gone on it at least five times. It is a boat on a track in water. It has some water guns on it, and on land, there are water guns too so people can squirt at you. You cannot enter that ride and come off dry, because they have water fountains set up to douse you no matter what. Dad liked it because he could get me and my friend wet without having to leave land, though he got soaked too.

All in all, I would say it was one of the best birthday's I have had in a while, even though I say that every year. I hope you enjoyed reading about my trip to Storyland, and that it inspires you to go next year, as it closed today.
Til the next,
Maddie

My Life, Part1: As a Baby

Starting today, I am going to be doing a kind of autobiography on myself. Part 1 is about me as a baby, and my birth, etc. I hope you enjoy this, as I will be dnoing it for a few weeks. So sit back, put on glasses if you have them, and enjoy Maddie's Biography Part 1.


My Birth
I was born right on the day I was supposed to arrive, October 12th. I was born at the Princeton Hospital at 9:00 p.m. on October 12th, 2001. I was a natural birth, not one of those gooey operation births. The first thing I did when I came out was grab a hold of my dad's pinky, and then be passed off to my mom. A lot of people came when they heard I was born. Now, being I was born near Halloween, but was too young to trick or treat, my parents dressed me up as an apple and brought me to the door for trick or treaters. Good times .....

My First Christmas
My first Christmas was very special. I got a lot of the things I cherish now, such as Sampson, my beloved rocking horse. Also, there was Sammy, a beautiful stuffed dog I have had forever. I always keep her in bed with me. I have had my Christmas stocking since I can remember. It is very pretty. It has an angel holding a star on it, and it has Merry Christmas stitched on it. My Christmas countdown bead statue is special too. A Christmas tradition for Mom and Dad is that they always get me one thing that I will keep and take with me to my house when I grow up.

Well, there was the first part of my life that I remember. I still sometimes ride Sampson, and to this day, Sammy has stayed on my bed to sleep with me. You may wonder how I remember all that, but really, I don't. I picked up most of the information about my birth, etc. off of my parents. The story of the second year of my life will be out on next week.
Cya later,
Maddie

My Allergies

Yesterday I went for my allergy test. I was very scared. I went in to a doctor's room, and the allergist asked me some questions. I asked her if the test would hurt, and she said no. I was stupid to believe that. I should have listened when my friend told me it would hurt. I should have refused to go to the appointment. I should have known it was going to hurt.

Imagine sticking a pin partway into your skin and pulling up and out. That is what the test felt like. Not only did it hurt, I still have the writing on my back. Here are the things I am allergic to: Cats, dogs, tree pollen, flower pollen, dust mites, ragweed, mold, and moss. No food allergies, but I was very upset about quite a few things. My sister, who also got the test, was allergic to: Cats, dogs, and eggs. That was when I broke down.

I started crying when I heard my sister was allergic to Lucky. I hid behind a doctor's curtain and refused to come out, partly because of embarrassment, but mostly because I could not control myself. I started crying. I thought we would have to get rid of Lucky, the best dog- and the only dog- I have ever had. Then, when I found out that I was allergic to trees, I thought I would spend my life inside. I was very sad. I was so sad I didn't hear the doctor's speech. I was just getting an air conditioner. I was relieved.

So, there was your warning- I mean write up, on my trip to the allergist.
Til the next,
Maddie

Crummy Service

Today was bad. I had my allergy test and I found out I am allergic to: tree pollen, dogs, cats, and dust. I cried because I thought I would have to get rid of Lucky, but we don't. Next, when I went to McDonald's, I asked for a plain cheeseburger, including no ketchup. I open up the burger, and what do I find but ketchup! So I take the burger into the restaurant. I tell the man behind the counter, I ordered a plain cheeseburger, no ketchup, and it has ketchup on it. He took it back to get it fixed, and I thought my troubles were over. Boy, was I wrong.

The man brought my burger out. I, assuming that the burger was fine, walked out to the car. It was not until we pulled away from the curb that I checked my burger, and found that it had everything on it BUT ketchup. I told Dad I wanted to complain to the manager, but we were too far away. I AM going to put in a complaint on the website though. Look out McDonald's!

Til' the next,
Maddie

My Birthday

"Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me..." Okay, so I am a little early. My birthday is not until next Wednesday. I can't wait for this Saturday, though. My dad has given me an early present, and me and my friend are going to an amusement park. Storyland is going to be awesome. I just hope it doesn't rain! There are some great rides there, rides that could be rained out. The log flume is one of my favorites. I remember the last time I went ....

I had a sleepover with my friend last time. We got up early in the morning and left, excited. It took us about 2 hours to get there, not including breakfast and getting lost. When we got there, we walked around the park, stopping on the Cuckoo Clockenspiel a few times ( I happened to like that ride ). The log flume got two rides, and then we moved on to... the flying fish. The flying fish are little fish shaped carts that go around in the air. They are way fun. My friend ended up chickening out though ( actually, she chickened out on everything!).

All in all, it was a fun trip. I have a strong feeling that there will be sunshine for my trip, and that my other friend will not chicken out. If it does end up raining, maybe we will go to the movies or something. I will tell you about the day when it happens, but for now ....

Cya in the next!

Good and Plenty, Good and Gone?

Good and Plenty ... the addicting candy covered, calorie filled, deliciously perfect licorice pieces. It seems as though once you eat one of these treats, you can't stop eating them! The words " fat-free" say nothing about the candies. They still make you fat, so how can they be fat free? Founded in 1893 by Quaker City Confectionery Company, Good and Plenty is the oldest known candy in the USA. In 1950, the commercial  with Choo-choo Charlie came out. For the original advertisement, please click here.

Today, Good and Plenty is owned by Hershey, a company specializing in candy. Hershey's share price has rocketed from a low of about $31 in March 2009 to it's current price of $59. Good and Plenty is a candy covered licorice. It is known that the red dye used for the pink candies is made from crushed female insects.
This paragraph was brought to you by nefvaluereasearch.com, in cooperation with maddiesthinkathought.blogspot.com.

Til' the next,
Maddie
( And don't forget: Good and Plenty is delicious, so go buy some!)